7 SAW vs vanilla 7mm-08

[Pilsner]

This article gives a good history of the ELD-X's development and corroborates what I had heard from a former colleague who worked in ballistics, which is that it is derived from the A-MAX. Either way, the basic concept is a thinly jacketed cup-and-core projectile. I'm sure guys have had success with them, but I personally lost a nice animal shooting them once.

Not saying I'm the saltiest dude alive but I definitely know what a disappearing blood trail and a dead end tracking job looks like.

From the article: "Combining the Heat Shield Tip with a sophisticated jacket and Hornady’s Interlock design, the ELD-X bullet will be loaded with the best-available powder, primers and cases in the new Precision Hunter line of ammunition..."
At no point in that article does it say the ELD-X was derived from the A-Max. It only said that the A-Max was one of the first tipped rounds to work well and the tip increased a number of useful characteristics to the hunter like consistent BC values, initiate expansion, etc.

-Doc

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

My daughter's 18" Tikka 7-08 load is the following:

Alpha brass
CCI LRP
46.5 grains of SB 6.5
162 ELDX @ 2.925" COL
2,628 MV

So far she has killed one big cow elk at 185 yards. For perspective, I'm 6'1 and 225. Shot was in the crease quartering away and the bullet liquified the heart and lungs and shattered the far humerus/scapula ball joint. We recovered the intact bullet just under the offside hide. The cow stumbled a steps right then left and tipped over in its tracks.

This combination also groups exceedingly well. Attached is her best 10 shot group at 100 yards.

Sample size of one, no doubt, but I have tremendous confidence in this rifle from range sessions to field use and won't hesitate to have her use it on her next Western hunt.

 

[wabash503]

7mm-08 SAAMI
Pictures are
150 ELDX at 2.8 seated OAL
150 ELDX at 2.96 OAL (loose)
162 ELDX at 2.96 OAL (loose)


Rounding numbers.

150eldx
1.75 neck/shoulder junction + 1.2 BS/BT length = 2.95 ish OAL.

162 eldx
1.75 + 1.275 =3.025 ish

I just had a new barrel with a custom 7mm-08 chamber specifically for the 150 & 162 ELD-X. Using the SAAMI specs, I talked it through with my gunsmith and also made a call to Hornady to verify the bullet BT length, bearing surface length, and BTO of the bullet.

The math we used looked like this...

150 ELD-X bullet BTO is .730, less the bullet BT length (.205) and case neck length (.301), that leaves .224 case mouth to ogive, but the SAAMI chamber is only .206 to the ogive. On the 162, the bearing surface is longer and BTO is .810. Same calculation means the 162 needs .300 case mouth to ogive. Plus both need room to jump.

That puts the 150 at .250 needed with jump, or .050 over SAAMI. Whereas the math says a purely SAAMI spec'd chamber would be .020 short, and that would be with the bullet at the lands...so I guess if you jammed it .020 into the lands, you could get there, or there is a longer throat than what the specs call for on your rifle.

Math...¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[CBB15]

Yes, the chamber is/ would have to be throated accordingly. I thought that was understood. In that regard, my reference to SAAMI wasn't accurate.

I was simply showing the alignment of such bullets in a SAAMI spec'd 7mm-08 brass and AICS binderless mags.

 

[wabash503]

Yes, the chamber is/ would have to be throated accordingly. I thought that was understood. In that regard, my reference to SAAMI wasn't accurate.

I was simply showing the alignment of such bullets in a SAAMI spec'd 7mm-08 brass and AICS binderless mags.

What kind of MVs are you seeing with the 150 and 162?

 

[9.3koolaid]

I've swapped my tikka 7-08 over to long action, now shooting 162 eldms at 3.00 oal. Getting ~2610 fps at 46 gr of H4350 out of a 20" barrel. Close enough to a SAW for me.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

I just had a new barrel with a custom 7mm-08 chamber specifically for the 150 & 162 ELD-X. Using the SAAMI specs, I talked it through with my gunsmith and also made a call to Hornady to verify the bullet BT length, bearing surface length, and BTO of the bullet.

The math we used looked like this...

150 ELD-X bullet BTO is .730, less the bullet BT length (.205) and case neck length (.301), that leaves .224 case mouth to ogive, but the SAAMI chamber is only .206 to the ogive. On the 162, the bearing surface is longer and BTO is .810. Same calculation means the 162 needs .300 case mouth to ogive. Plus both need room to jump.

That puts the 150 at .250 needed with jump, or .050 over SAAMI. Whereas the math says a purely SAAMI spec'd chamber would be .020 short, and that would be with the bullet at the lands...so I guess if you jammed it .020 into the lands, you could get there, or there is a longer throat than what the specs call for on your rifle.

Math...¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I just use a black sharpie and seat the bullet a little deeper each time until I don't have land marks any more.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

I've swapped my tikka 7-08 over to long action, now shooting 162 eldms at 3.00 oal. Getting ~2610 fps at 46 gr of H4350 out of a 20" barrel. Close enough to a SAW for me.

You're definitely leaving some MV on the table with that load in a 20" barrel, but if its shoots good then no reason to tinker.

EDIT: I also added LA bolt stop and use L mags. Although my 6.5 PRC mags work now too and give me an extra round in the mag.

 

[9.3koolaid]

You're definitely leaving some MV on the table with that load in a 20" barrel, but if its shoots good then no reason to tinker.

EDIT: I also added LA bolt stop and use L mags. Although my 6.5 PRC mags work now too and give me an extra round in the mag.

Your 6.5 staball load load makes me want to give it a shot! I've never had a load that accurate with 6.5SB, definitely awesome speed though.